Excessive Sugar Consumption Can Cause Dental and Health Problems
Consuming too much sugar has long been associated with a wide range of diseases, from type 2 diabetes to tooth decay. Have a look at our hidden sugars list to see how sugar is creeping in to your diet.
Experts have been warning that sugar intake should be controlled and reduced to no more than 10% of one’s daily calorie intake.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued new guidelines that further cut the recommended level of sugar consumption, stating that in order to minimise the risks of diseases linked to sugar, a healthy adult should have a diet in which sugar makes up no more than 5% of one’s daily calorie intake. Although the 10% limit is still supported by the WHO, its latest research suggests that a 5% limit would have extra health benefits. Dr. Francesco Branca, the WHO’s director of nutrition for health and development, explained that based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet of an average adult, 5% adds up to 100 calories or 25g of sugar. By comparison, a standard can of Coke contains 35g of sugar.
Consumption of so-called free sugars, which are added to drinks and foods during the production process, is one of the key causes for dental issues among children, the WHO found. Large numbers of the population ignore the effect that diet has on their oral health.
Children who get more than 10% of their calorie intake from sugar were more likely to develop tooth decay than children who consumed less sugar than the suggested limit, the Guardian reported.
Tooth decay is a result of continuous exposure to various risk factors, including sugar, and even the smallest reduction in sugar intake could have benefits for one’s dental health in later life, the WHO report said. See how to prevent tooth decay.
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For more than two decades, the World Health Organisation has advised people to consume no more than 10% of their daily calorie intake in the form of “free sugars”.
HIDDEN SUGARS LIST
A high sugar diet can greatly increase the likelihood of tooth decay and enamel erosion. Find out more about how your diet affects your oral health.
We have compiled a list of common foods with their sugar content measured in teaspoons.
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